Department of the Navy

Funds Department of the Navy channels, including Office of Naval Research and Naval Research Laboratory, for naval innovation.

The Department of the Navy (DoN) funds R&D and innovation through four primary delivery channels: the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for basic and applied research; the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the DoN's corporate research lab, which issues its own Broad Agency Announcement (BAA); Navy SBIR/STTR for small business innovation across all systems commands; and NavalX/Tech Bridges, the Naval Agility Office that connects innovators with operational users.

ONR was established in 1946 to 'plan, foster, and encourage scientific research in recognition of its paramount importance as related to the maintenance of future naval power.' Its five departments — C5ISRT, Ocean Battlespace Sensing, Sea Warfare and Weapons, Warfighter Performance, and Naval Air Warfare and Weapons — drive the research priorities that flow into ONR's Long Range BAA and special program announcements. NRL operates as a distinct delivery entity from its sites in Washington DC, Stennis Space Center MS, and Monterey CA.

Navy SBIR/STTR runs across NAVAIR, NAVSEA, NAVWAR, ONR, MARCORSYSCOM, NAVSUP, NAVFAC, and SSP. Approximately $400M in annual SBIR/STTR awards span ships, submarines, aviation, undersea warfare, weapons, networks, autonomy, sensors, and Marine Corps ground systems. Navy Catapult (Phase II.5) and the SBIR Transition Program (STP) provide additional on-ramps for companies already in the SBIR pipeline.